I have never been one for a hands-free device… I always felt really silly using them. I don’t talk on the phone much (I really, really don’t like to talk on the phone AT ALL, to anyone. Just ask my husband… while he travels. He’s been in New Jersey the last two weeks and I’m like.. can you just text me how your day went?? LOL), but I do use my phone in my car for music. I’m a die hard amazon prime music addict, and this makes it so much easier for me!

Confession: This is also super spectacular for snapchat videos. Probably instagram live broadcasts, too, but I haven’t been brave enough to do one of those yet. What would I even say?! IDK, I’m putting it on the list. I’m actually late writing this post because I couldn’t stop using my ClutchIt long enough to properly photograph it with my DLSR. That is why you don’t see any photos of my phone actually attached to the ClutchIt. Seriously. It is that cool.

One of the things I really like about the ClutchIt is the fact that it is a magnetic mount so no matter what phone case you have, you can use the ClutchIt. Other mounts I’ve checked out are kind of like old school phone clips that go on your belt– bulky and they won’t always work if you’ve got a big phone case. I use the Lumee case and I’ll never use another kind again… so those old school clip mounts don’t work for me. Another cool thing about the ClutchIt, if your phone case is really thin, you can apply the magnet to your phone under the phone case and it will still work! The Lumee is way too thick for that, so I have it attached to the outside. The magnet is about the size of a pop-socket circumference wise, but it is so thin I don’t even notice that it is on my phone.

The base magnets for your surfaces (car dash, mirror in your bathroom, etc.) are a little thicker, and they have padding on the back of them that are made by 3M. The adhesive is super strong, so strong I had a hard time getting the safety backing off each of my base magnets! Super sticky! I have one base magnet on my dash (pictured), and I have one stuck on the top left corner of my computer at work. You know… so I can snapchat and facetime easier while I’m pretending to work.

A base mount on my work computer so I can facetime easily while I pretend to actually work

I am basically addicted to hands-free now and I am so excited to have a ClutchIt! I am going to order a couple more base mounts for it, because I would like to have one over my bathroom sink for when I am getting ready to go somewhere (think doing makeup, or hair), and I would like to multi task by video chatting with my sister who lives in South Carolina. My teenage daughter is dying for her own ClutchIt, and I pretty much had to fight her for this one when it arrived in the mail. It makes a perfect stocking stuffer (hey, some people are already Christmas shopping!! I should probably be one of them), honeymoon gift, bridal shower gift, or just because. I wish I had thought ahead and ordered one last week for Andy for Fathers’ Day. I think that this little magnetic mount has simplified my life so much, and you wouldn’t really think that about a hands-free mount. I mean, you probably don’t think about hands-free mounts for your electronics at all, do you?

I didn’t. Until now!

Another great place to put a base mount would be on the hood of your stove! First off, who doesn’t want to pretend they’re hosting their own cooking show? My daughter does a lot of live broadcasts on her facebook page making smoothies in our blender. This mount would be perfect for her (and provide a much better angle than leaning her iphone against the backsplash of the counter) while she’s doing those videos.

The ClutchIt is so awesome, my best friend wants to order them for her entire fleet of drivers at her company. Not to mention her own ClutchIt (and a couple for her kids, too). If you’d like to try a ClutchIt, The World’s First Dual Magnetic Anywhere Mount, you can click HERE or go to ClutchIt.com and use code KANDICEPOIRIER for a sweet deal. You definitely won’t regret it. All mounts are available in iPhone colors: gold, silver, rose gold, space grey, or black. I like that the mounts match your phone and the actual base magnets do, too.

Ah, yes. There I am, pretending to work while I actually send 1000 snaps to my friends! Haha! It really is useful that I can use the same hands free mount in the house, my office, or in my car. The ClutchIt mount is not very big, and it isn’t very heavy, so it just slips in my purse when I go from home to work and back.

Ok. One more thing: My absolute FAVORITE PART::

NO MORE SELFIE STICKS!!!

That’s right. We have so much fun with our snapchat filters, and we don’t need a selfie stick to do it!! With the magnetic bases for the mount, you can really be hands-free anywhere, any time, for an unlimited amount of times. You get two base mounts included with your ClutchIt, and you can purchase separate ones at their website. Just click right here.

Go order your very own ClutchIt, and tag me on twitter or instagram when you’re using it! I can’t wait for this selfie-stickless revolution!

Do you use it? Absolutely. Are you addicted? Probably. What is your favorite hashtag? #goldendoodlesofinstagram Your favorite account to follow? This is a super long list! Do you plan your posts? Not the way I should, as a business owner. I’m working on that. What kinds of accounts do you interact with the most? My inner circle + the people I find to be an inspiration!

Me, too.

So, today I’m going to share a few accounts (ok, 10!) that I love to follow, and why.

Shawna @styleberrycreative :: I found Shawna way back in 2010 when Sophia was born. I was super interested in cloth diapering and she had a great informational blog post about it. So, I started following her blog, and her instagram. She has since moved on from the baby stage and into her passionate career of interior design. That girl has a gift! Her style is what mine aspires to be, and I really enjoy following her work. I also love how she clearly compartmentalizes her work from her family, ensuring that her number one priority is always her children and their needs.

Ellen Fisher @ellenfisher :: Ellen is a young mother of three, and when I first found her instagram account, I thought she was nuts. She moved with her husband to Hawaii (hello, dream life!) to have easier access to raw foods in season 24/7/365. She and her husband were totally raw vegan, and now while they’re mostly raw, they’re still 100% vegan. I am not a vegan anymore, and I probably won’t ever be again… but I love her instagram account. Not only does she have great photos and food ideas, and gorgeous children, but she is a wonderful mother. I am constantly working on being a ‘peaceful parent’ and Ellen does too. She unschools her children which I find fascinating and I wish I had the guts or ability to do the same. For such a young woman, she is so inspiring. You should definitely follow along on her bright journey!

Dana Linn Bailey @danalinnbailey :: So, if you know anything about the fitness industry, you know who she is. Beautiful, adventurous, chasing her dreams and accomplishing them. I started following her long ago when she was on the road to Olympia. Now I follow along for her cute silly faces and her goats. Oh and jeeping adventures. Dana is super inspiring in so many ways, and I love the relationship she has with her husband. They’re besties, and that is aspirational. She’s also plant based now, so I enjoy her cooking adventures as well.

Orlando Sorio @mrorlandosoria :: Another interior designer, this guy’s insta stories make me LOL on the daily. He uses a lot of mid century modern style in his projects and that keeps me coming back for inspiration! I love MCM and so his designs are always so fun to me. The fact that he could also be a comedian doesn’t hurt. You can’t forget orMOMdo, either. His mama is adorable and I love it when he features her in his stories.

Teggy Weichert @teggyfrench :: fashion. FASH-UNNNN. This woman is so bold in her clothing choices and classic at the same time. I wish I could pull off half her looks. Her instagram feed is bright and often retro, and I am so totally crazy over her clothing choices. She also just had a baby and he’s absolutely the cutest ever!

Adam Schafer @mindpumpadam :: Adam is the host of my all time favorite podcast, Mind Pump Radio. So, there are 3 hosts, Adam, Sal, and Justin (linked each host to his instagram feed). I love all three of those dudes, but Adam’s insta is my fave because he posts new books to read all the time. Adam’s Li-Berry (giggle) story is pinned to his profile, woo! One more thing: I highly recommend listening to their podcast if you haven’t, it is a treasure trove of great information and plenty of LOLs.

Turtle Creek Lane @turtlecreeklane :: This is another interior designer, but her style is the polar opposite of mine. I find her instagram feed to be intriguing because there is SO.MUCH.STUFF. in her house. Everything is gorgeous! It is like a wonderland themed from whichever holiday is coming up. Her work is so fun! It is way too much for me personally but I super love seeing her decor and her smiling face! She truly loves what she does and that makes me enjoy her feed 100x more.

TED Talks @ted :: TED talks cover every subject imaginable and I don’t think we should ever stop learning. Lately I’ve been so frustrated by people in my life who just flat out refuse to explore the world from someone else’s perspective(they’re on instagram, too). I wish that I could make everyone I know watch one ted talk per day for the next month and see how their mindset shifts. I’ll just leave my comments at that, but I do want to encourage every single person to change the channel off FOX or CNN and actually learn something about someone different than you… without all the media hype and smoke and mirrors for sensationalism. Whether you want to learn about human psychology or electricity or how to DO something specific.. you should follow along and watch a ted talk or a hundred.

Louise Hay Affirmations on instagram @louise_hay_affirmations :: I love Louise Hay’s work and her message. I’m glad someone is posting her work in small squares on instagram. A daily dose of positivity!

I am sure there are many more instagram accounts that I love and you would too, but this list might go on forever! Who are your favorite follows on insta? I hope you can add me to that list! @kandicepoirier 🙂

So, you’ve got your business plan, you have all your social media handles picked out and accounts opened. This is it! How exciting! You’re sitting there in front of your macbook, or on your phone, ready to create your first post…. but, what do you post? There are so many things you can and will say to obtain, grow, and create meaningful relationships with your tribe.

You probably have a pretty good idea of the types of things you will need to post in order to create a dialogue and keep the interest of your followers, but what about what you shouldn’t post?

7 Social Media Mistakes

Flooding the Stream || We get it. You’re excited about your new venture, new product, new service. We are excited for you! Don’t just flood the stream with random “about” posts, though. Show us what you’re doing in your business, but make it something your audience cares about. Interact. Use a call to action, ask a question, encourage dialogue. Respond authentically. Your audience will grow and appreciate your sincerity.

Getting Religious or Political || Unless your niche is religion or politics, this is pretty much a no-no. By broadcasting your personal beliefs avidly to your audience, you run a huge risk of alienating some of them. Granted, some “small town” businesses actually benefit from this (I’m thinking about small businesses that were in the rural area where I grew up, and church was the hub of everything.. however, social media didn’t really have a presence back then and still does not have a major one in that area, now). There are appropriate times to share, such as “I voted” sticker posts or sending a prayer/well wish to a customer or fellow entrepreneur… tasteful spurts of personal belief are welcomed, but please do not try to recruit your followers to your political party or religious association.

Bad-mouthing the Competition || Never, ever, I mean, ever, tweet out or post something negative about your competition. Unless you’re Wendy’s, this will not work. It makes you look petty, and unprofessional.

Arguing with customers || EVEN IF YOU ARE RIGHT. Do not use social media to argue with your customers or clients. You always want to present your best foot forward, and good social media presence is a huge part of the trust experience for customers. Apologize for the inconvenience, and see what you can do to right the wrong. It might be a little painful for your ego at times, but others will see your incredible customer service and the client will have nothing to be able to complain about.

Getting too Personal || This one is similar to being too religious or political… If you like to use social media to joke around with friends, make sure you have a separate social media account for that. Your clients and customers will always enjoy a peek into your personal life (office space, a delicious meal at a local restaurant, styled shoots, etc). They do not need to see pics of you at the bar #getlit or your snarky tweet aimed at your old college pal. Just sayin’ …. keep it classy.

Allowing Access to the Wrong Person || You hopefully trust your employees. But really consider how much you do trust their ability before turning over access to your social media accounts. If you have too much going on to really make an impact on your social media platforms, consider contracting that part of your job out to a Social Media Manager. A professional that will research your niche and trade, and lay out a schedule of posts that are aligned to your image versus an employee that maybe is not as passionate about your business as you are.

Forgetting Your Social Media Accounts Exist || I see this all the time. Business owners create accounts on all social media platforms, post a couple of times, and then totally forget the account even exists. Even worse, a few weeks or months or even a year goes by and the business owner decides to get back to social media… they forgot their password and end up creating all new accounts. This is confusing for your client base and possible future leads. Keep a notebook or a digital note on your phone with all your social media account usernames and passwords.

Keep these social media don’ts in mind when you’re creating your next post, or contemplating joining that new social media network. Pick one or two platforms you understand and enjoy and stick with those until you’re ready to hire a Social Media Manager or feel confident that you can maintain multiple accounts appropriately, at once!

Do you have any social media mistakes to share? I’d love to hear them! You can find me on Facebook and Instagram!

Owning and running your own business involves a lot of work and networking. For many, the difficult part is what is done behind the keyboard: SEO, content, photo editing. I have found recently, however, many small business owners are really comfortable creating and maintaining their own website and content (or paying a developer to do it for them)… and what they really need help with is being social outside of social media.

Lucky for you, I love being social and I love growing my professional network, so I have compiled a list of my top 5 “IRL” networking tips! These actions have been invaluable to me in the past, and helped me grow my brand immensely when I owned my own photography business. The following networking tips also helped me when I was an events coordinator for a non-profit company as well.

1. Your chamber of commerce is the place to be. Typically your local chamber will have 2-4 monthly networking opportunities sponsored by them, and they will also provide lists of other events being sponsored by businesses that are members of the chamber. For instance, my chamber has a monthly large breakfast gathering with a guest speaker, a monthly casual breakfast “club” for networking quickly on the way to your job, several network groups that are affiliated with the chamber and meet there on specific days, lunch meetings for networking, and plenty of other gatherings as well. You do usually have to be a member to participate, but most will work out a payment plan if you cannot pay the full membership fee at once. Memberships usually come with some advertising on your behalf included, so why wouldn’t you jump on that?!

2. Volunteer. Yeah, that’s right. I am a member of the Junior League in my city and I have met so many wonderful women! Volunteering leaves me fulfilled in a way many things can't, and it also introduces me to several new people. Click To Tweet When you meet someone new, you always share the basics about yourself: name, occupation, usually age or something else generic but interesting. Finding a common ground is the norm, and when someone new learns what you do, chances are they know someone that could use your services. Don’t try to sell the person, but make a personable, lasting impression and they’ll remember your name when your niche comes up later.

3. Lunch and Learn Classes. This may sound scary but it can be so fun. Reach out to your local corporations and small businesses in the area, and offer to teach a lunch and learn class. The class doesn’t need to cover everything your do in your profession, but maybe just one or two skills the employees will find valuable and go in-depth. You can also do this as a class at your local library. For instance, if your niche is graphic design, you could hold a class at the library for small business owners looking to expand their social media outreach. Teach them how to use something simple like canva.com or another app to create appealing, significant social media posts. They can do this easily and on their own, they’ll see your skillset, and learn about the services you offer. When they’re ready to upgrade their web presence, or their print ads, you’ll be fresh on their minds!

4. Focus on creating meaningful relationships. This is my favorite method of networking, by far. I am a cancer, I crave meaningful interactions and love and acceptance (and appreciation!). Giving love to others also sets me on fire. Click To Tweet So, just do it. There are places that you frequent often and love fiercely, I’m sure. For me, one of those spots is my gym. It is not just any regular gym, it is a very niche gym. Ok, its an aerial yoga and pole studio. Seriously, I love it. I spend every extra minute I can spare, in that space. I love the owner, I love the instructors, I love the vibe, the energy, the supportive classmates I’m slowly calling my friends. I don’t work for this studio, but I promote their classes and location and workshops like I do. I probably share their info just as much as the instructors do (unless they use an unflattering video of me for the ad, then, sorry, nope. HA!). So for me, this is a meaningful relationship I’ve created and the studio owner has expressed sincere gratitude for my referral of her studio to my pretty large following. I know that at a later date, when the subject comes up, she will recommend me as a social media manager or consultant for her fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners.

5. Refer, Refer, Refer. This one is simple. Find local shops you love, local businesses you believe in, and refer the heck out of them. Example: my friend is a realtor. Every day on social media or in person, someone I know mentions needing to buy, sell, or rent a home. I comment her info or hand over her card. She has put me in two homes where we live and I love her deeply for her patience and understanding. When I found my dream house, my husband wasn’t convinced, so she got the keys for me for the 15th time to do another walkthrough.. only she helped me make a video in every single room where my daughters and I explained our family vision to him. In EVERY.SINGLE.ROOM. All four bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living areas, dining room, kitchen, gym, and bar. It was a fun, long experience but hey, we won him over and we are raising our family in our dream home! Worth IT! I love telling that story when I am referring to her. In turn, she refers to me as well. Bonus: celebratory coffee dates when the referrals lead to business!

The Sometimes Writer

Wife, Mother, Crazy bestie for the restie. Lover of tacos and boat beer. I like to travel, take pictures, eat, workout, and spend time in my community helping where I can. My husband and kids are the center of my universe!